Imprisoned drugs trafficker credits music for saving him

ox … .There was an acoustic guitar my dad had got my mum in there. I had nothing else to do but to learn the guitar,” he recalls. McCarthy was heavily involved in Glasgow’s vibrant music scene, working in the best clubs and spending all his time with now-famous bands like Simple Minds and Aztec Camera. “Glasgow in the ’80s was incredible,” he says.

After being captivated by the allure of Spain on a rainy day outside a club, McCarthy’s life took a turn when he moved to Spain. Working in clubs and bars, he rubbed shoulders with celebrities and people in the criminal underworld, leading him down a path of unintentional lawbreaking that eventually resulted in his arrest on drug trafficking charges. Recalling his experiences, McCarthy explains that his involvement in illegal activities escalated quickly, eventually leading to his conviction.

Thrown into a grim dungeon in Spain during a time of political transition, McCarthy faced dehumanizing treatment from prison guards. He described the conditions as worse than depicted in a BBC documentary about Barlinnie Prison, devoid of running water or electricity, forcing the inmates to endure extreme hardship. However, a glimmer of hope emerged when a visiting jazz guitarist introduced a music program at Murcia Prison, where McCarthy was incarcerated. Reflecting on this period, he acknowledges that music was a saving grace for him and his fellow inmates during their darkest days.

McCarthy and his fellow inmates formed a band named Berlin90, which gained national attention through a live television performance and appearances on Spain’s Top 40 show. Despite their sudden success, McCarthy’s bandmate, a notorious bank robber named Tito, made a poignant choice to prioritize music over freedom, giving up a chance to escape from prison to continue their musical journey. Although McCarthy was eventually transferred to a brutal maximum-security prison in Madrid, extinguishing the band’s hopes, the musical legacy of Berlin90 endured.

After a 30-year hiatus from music, McCarthy reconnected with a Spanish DJ who had kept their music alive over the years. This reunion reignited public interest in their story, culminating in the filming of a music video for their song “Runaway” in McCarthy’s hometown by a BAFTA-winning director. The song, originally recorded in a prison cinema in 1991, has now found a global audience, symbolizing hope and resilience.

Now preparing for a unique opportunity to perform for current inmates at Murcia prison, McCarthy sees this as a chance to give back and inspire others through his remarkable journey. Reflecting on his past, he emphasizes the transformative power of music in his life, crediting it with providing a reason to persevere through adversity. McCarthy hopes that sharing his story will instill hope in others, showcasing the redemptive and healing power of music, as he prepares to return to the place where his musical journey began.